Preview: Doncaster Rovers vs. Shrewsbury Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Doncaster Rovers will be keen to pick up points in a bid to improve on their desperate position at the bottom of League One when they welcome Shrewsbury Town to the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Shrewsbury themselves are currently hovering just above the drop zone, making this weekend's clash an important fixture in the race to avoid the League One drop.

Match preview

One victory from their first 10 league matches saw Doncaster rooted to the bottom of the division as early as mid-October, where they have since failed to escape the relegation zone once.

Boasting only three wins all season, Doncaster currently sit five points from safety, with their five-season stint in the fourth tier of English football looking under threat.

Such poor form saw club legend Richie Wellens relieved of his duties in early December, with the club acting fast in order to try to mount a survival bid.

Whether it will work or not remains to be seen, but the good news for whoever next takes charge at the Keepmoat is that Doncaster's home form this season has been surprisingly positive.

All three of their victories this term have come at home, with the new boss likely to try and turn the Keepmoat into a fortress, starting with Saturday's visit of Shrewsbury.

It has not been a season to remember for Shrewsbury either, who much like their weekend opponents are in the midst of a cut-throat relegation battle.

Only one point separated them from Fleetwood Town in the drop zone, making Saturday's visit to Yorkshire a crucial moment in their campaign.

If they are to escape Doncaster with a victory, Shrewsbury will have to do something that they have not managed in League One all season and win a match on the road.

Including the final match of last season, Shrewsbury are winless in their previous 11 League One away matches, but recent history suggests that a change in fortunes could be on the cards.

Shrewsbury have won three of their previous five meetings in the league with Doncaster, while they have only lost two of their last nine.

Team News

A last-minute goal away to Wigan Athletic cost Shrewsbury a point in midweek, yet it did signal the return of Rekeil Pyke, who came off the bench after a minor hamstring injury had kept him out.

There was no such luck for Ethan Ebanks-Landell, who is likely to miss this weekend's clash with Doncaster with a hamstring problem, whilst Ryan Bowman will be hopeful of retaining his place in attack following his midweek goal.

It is now 10 league matches without a goal for Jordy Hiwula after failing to find the net on Tuesday evening, but the striker is still expected to lead the line.

Goalkeeper Louis Jones will start in between the sticks and be looking to keep just Doncaster's second clean sheet in 12 matches.

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:
Jones; Knoyle, Anderson, Blythe; Hasani, Smith, Galbraith, Horton; Barlow, Rowe, Cukur

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:
Marosi; Pennington, Leahy, Nurse; Ogbeta, Vela, Bennet, Daniels; Udoh, Bloxham, Bowman

We say: Doncaster Rovers 1-2 Shrewsbury Town

Neither side can afford anymore League One slip-ups, but whilst the writing looks to be on the wall for Doncaster, hope remains in the Shrewsbury camp that they can still find a way out.

Shrewsbury boast the upper-hand over Doncaster in recent years and they will likely take another three points this weekend.

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